Improvement in front-gear couplings for wagons



J. W. 84 L. S. TRUDELL. Front (hear-Coupling for Wagons.

No. 207,916. Patented Sept. 10. 1878.-

WITNESSES; INVBNTOR:

Wq/ mw -J z Ia/a BY (fwd/w ATTORNEYS. I

'M ETERS. FHOTO LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D O- UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOSEPH WV. TRUDELL AND LOUIS SQTRUDELL, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRONT-GEAR COUPLINGS FOR WAGONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 207,916, datedSeptember 10, 1878; application filed April 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J osnrn W. TRUDELL and Lows S. TRUDELL, of SiouxCity, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Wagon Front-Gear Coupling, of which thefollowing is a specification:

Figure l is'a top View of the forward part of a wagongearing to whichour improvement has been applied. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section ofthe same, taken through the line 00 a, Fig. 1. Fig. Sis a detailperspective View of the upper bolster-plate. Fig. 4 is a detailperspective view of the lower bolsterplate.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this imention is to furnish an improved coupling forconnecting the parts of the front gear of a wagon in such away that theymay play easily upon each other, and at the same time may be heldsecurely in place, and which shall be simple in construction, and willallow the wagon to be turned in less space than is possible with theordinary couplin The invention consists in the combination of the twoplates provided with the tongue and groove, the flanges which form seatsfor the bolster and the sand-board, the tapering hub and the straightsocket, the axle-brace, the reach-brace, and the bolt with each other,and with the bolster, the sand-board, the axle, and the reach, ashereinafter fully described.

A represents the forward axle of a wagon, to which the forward hounds,B, and the sand board 0 are attached, in the usual way. D is the forwardbolster, upon which the forward part of the wagon-body rests.

E F are two plates, the forward ends of which are made in the form of asection of a circle, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the face of the lowerplate, F, at a little distance from its curved edge, is formed a groove,G, to receive a correspondingly shaped tongue, H, formed upon the faceof the upper plate, E.

The tongue and groove H G prevent anylongitudinal movements of theplates E F upon each other, and thus relieve their pivot from a portionof the strain.

Upon the outer sides of the plates E F are formed flanges or shoulders IJ, to form seats for the bolster D and sand-board O, which are securedto said plates E F by bolts.

In the rear end of the plate F is formed a straight or cylindricalsocket, K, projecting a little below the lower surface of the said end,to rest upon the upper side of the forward end of the reach L.

Upon the rear end of the plate E is formed a downwardly-projecting hub,M, to enter the socket K, and thus pivot the two plates E F to eachother.

The hub M is made tapering, so that the plates E F may rock upon eachother to enable either of the wheels to pass over an obstruction withouttwisting or wrenching the gear.

N is the king-bolt, which passes through the hub M, the socket K, andthe reach L, and pivots said parts to each other. The connection isfurther strengthened by the reach-brace O and the axle-brace P.

The forward end of the reach-brace O rests upon the upper side of therear end of the plate E, and has a hole formed through it, through whichthe bolt N passes. The rear end of the reach-brace O rests upon thereach L, and is bolted to it.

P is the axle-brace, the upper end of which rests against the lower sideof the forward 1 end of the reach L, and has a hole formed through it,through which the king-bolt N passes.

The brace P is made forked, and the ends of its branches pass beneath.the lower side of the axle A, and are secured in place by-the bolts thatsecure the plate F, the sand-board O, and the axle A to each other.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- The combination of the two plates E F, pro-"ided with the tongue and groove H G, the flanges I J, which form seatsfor the bolster D and the sandboard O, the tapering hub M and thestraight socket K, the axle-brace P, the reach-brace O, and theking-bolt N, with each other, and with the bolster D, the sandboard 0,the axle A, and the reach L, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

JOSEPH WV. TRUDELL. LOUIS S. TRUDELL.

Vitnesses W. A. CRANDALL, T. RYAN.

